Bohn cilapin hicks



( NoModeL) B. G. HICKS.

CHAIN FOR FLEXIBLE PARTITIONS.

No. 430,949. Patented June 24, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOHN CHAPIN HICKS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO THE HICKS STOCK CAR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLI- NOIS.

CHAIN FOR FLEXIBLE PARTITIONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,949, dated June 24,1890.

Application filed November 12, 1889 Serial No. 329,982. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BOHN OHAPIN H1cKs,a citizen of the United States,residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented'certain new and useful Improvements in FlexiblePartitions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of flexible belts orpartitions-such, for example, as are employed on stock-cars for dividingit into stalls or compartments; and the invention consists in thespecific construction thereof.

The improved construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of a partition constructedin accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a similar View ofthe same, showing it rolled up; and Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detailviews.

The improved flexible partition is composed of a plurality of cross-barsconnected together at their ends by what may be termed linked chains.The main bar-supporting links of the chain are formed in two parts A Aeach part having an eye a on one end and adapted to be secured onopposite sides of the slats or bars 13, forming the flexible partition,by bolts or rivets b, and with the eyes a on opposite edges of the barsB, as shown. The ends in which the eyes a occur are formed with squareshoulders 6, against which the edge faces of the cross-bar seat, theseshoulders projecting beyond the bars, and also forming supports orabutments for the ends 6 of the opposing parts of the link A or A asshown. The ends of the parts A A are extended beyond the shoulders e andprovided with lips 6 fitting into corresponding cavities in the adjacentparts of the opposite link, as shown, whereby an additionalbearing-surface is secured for the parts, and a portion of the endstrains borne by the lips 6 instead of entirely by the bolts 1). This isan important feature of my invention and greatly strengthens the unionbetween the I parts and equalizes the strains to which they aresubjected. The two parts A A thus entirely encompass the bars B andcombine the advantages of a strap or Support for the bars with their useas links of a chain, by which a number of the bars may be connected toform a flexible partition.

The eyes a of the two parts of each barsupporting link are in a lineparallel with the side faces of the cross-bar which is supported bythelink. Preferably, and as shown, the centers of the eyes are in a lineextending centrally through the crossbar.

Links D are shown connecting the eyes a of one link with the adjacentones, by which the partition may be extended to any desired length.

In the drawings I have shown the partition connected by a chain E to ashaft F, having one or more disks Fain which position it will beemployed in a stock-car, this construction enabling the partition to beeasily and readily rolled upon the disks F as a roller or drum, as shownin Fig. 2. No claim is here made to this mechanism for rolling theflexible partition, such mechanism constituting the subject-matter of anapplication for Letters Patent of the United States No. 329,611, filedby me November 8, 1889.

The outer surfaces of the parts A A are slightly concaved, as shown, sothat they will more readily adapt themselves to the curvature of thedisks F when being rolled up.

Another important advantage gained by this construction is that in eventof the breakage of one of the bars B it maybe readily removed andreplaced by a new bar without disturbing the remaining bars.

Under some circumstances the parts A A of one bar B may be coupleddirectly to the corresponding parts of the adjacent bar without theinterposed links D; but this would be substantially the sameconstruction as shown.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new is- 1. A flexiblebelt or partition consisting of a plurality of cross-bars andbar-supporting links, each bar-supporting link being composed of twosimilar parts A A which are placed on opposite sides of one of thecrossbars, each part A A having an eye a, for pivotally connecting it toanother link, and each part having a shoulder against whichan edgefaceof the crossbar seats, substantially as set forth.

I 2. A flexible belt or partition consisting of a plurallty 0fcross-bars and bar-supporting links, each bar-supporting link beingcomposed of two similar parts A A which are placed on opposite sides ofand embrace one of the cross-bars, each part having a square shoulderagainst which an edge face of the cross-bar seats, and each part havingan eye a, for pivotally connecting it to another link, the two eyes a onthe two parts of the same link being in a line parallel with the sidefaces of the cross-bar, substantially as set forth.

3. A flexible belt or partition consisting of a plurality of cross-barsand bar-supporting links, each bar-supporting link being composed of twosimilar parts A A which are placed on opposite sides of and embrace oneof the cross-bars, each part havinga square shoulder against which anedge face of the cross-bar seats, and each part having a locking-lip eand cavity 6 the locking-lip e on one part engaging the cavity 0 on theother part, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

BOHN OHAPIN HICKS.

Witnesses:

C. N. WOODWARD,

H. S. WEBSTER.

